Des Moines Water Works customers must report visible water main breaks, hydrant damage, and curb-stop leaks promptly; DMWW dispatches emergency crews 24/7, and customer-side leaks beyond the meter remain the property owner responsibility.
DMWW operates a 24-hour dispatch line for water main breaks, hydrant gushers, and other leaks within the public right-of-way. Customers can call 515-283-8769 to report. Once past the curb stop and meter, leaks become the property owner responsibility, including service line repairs that can cost thousands. DMWW offers high-usage alerts on monthly bills and online portal tools. Continuous-flow billing adjustments may be available for one-time underground leaks if the customer documents prompt repair within the utility billing adjustment policy.
Failure to repair customer-side leaks can trigger service termination notice; tampering with hydrants is a criminal misdemeanor under Iowa law.
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See how Des Moines's leak reporting duty rules stack up against other locations.
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